According to recent news, sports betting is coming to Connecticut, which is set to become the latest state to join the booming industry. Gov. Ned Lamont has stated that Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun tribal casinos are ready to launch sports betting even before the Connecticut online market becomes available.
Retail Sports Betting in Connecticut Just Around the Corner
Gov. Lamont spoke to the media on Tuesday, September 14, unveiling that the state of Connecticut is ready to launch retail sports betting. The project will be executed with the help of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun tribal casinos, who are prepared to open retail sportsbooks before the Nutmeg State receives approval to launch online markets.
“My instinct is the tribes, hopefully, will do something collaboratively at the same time on site, and we’re just waiting for the final approval so we can get everything going online as well,” said Lamont.
Just a day after Lamont’s statement, Mohegan Tribes and Mashantucket Pequot published their gaming compacts in the Federal Registrar, suggesting that sports betting could go live very soon. The speculations were further supported on Thursday when the tribes received approval on the revision to their gaming compacts.
That was one of the last hurdles the tribes had to overcome, as they needed Federal approval of the revision to take a step towards implementing sports betting and online gaming. Although it took four months for the revision – which Lamont signed in May – to get approved, everything seems to be moving in the right direction for sports betting in Connecticut.
“Today’s approval from the federal department of the Interior is historic and begins an exciting new chapter for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation,” said Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman.
Mr. Butler further explained that the expansion allows the tribes to enhance investments supporting the Mashantucket Pequot tribe. With that, the tribe will contribute additional revenue to Connecticut and provide a “new level of entertainment” for their guests.
“We will continue to work with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection to make sports betting and iGaming available as soon as we are legally allowed to do so in Connecticut,” added Butler.
The Tribes Partner with FanDuel and DraftKings
Mashantucket Pequot Tribe has teamed up with a prominent betting provider, DraftKings, while Mohegan Tribe will partner with FanDuel for their entry into Connecticut’s sports betting market. Joining the two as the third operator in the state is Rush Street Interactive, which have reached a deal with Connecticut Lottery.
The deals follow last month’s announcement that the Connecticut General Assembly’s Regulation Review Committee accepted the regulations for betting, which allowed the department to continue licensing and certifying the platform providers.
“This critical step in the process of modernizing our gaming landscape here in Connecticut ensures that our state will have a competitive, nation-leading marketplace for wagering both in-person and online,” said Lamont.
“Today’s announcement puts Connecticut on the cusp of providing a modern, technologically advanced gaming experience that will be competitive with our neighboring states and positions us for success into the future.”
While Connecticut residents can be hopeful about retail sports betting launching very soon, they might need to wait a bit longer before being able to gamble online. According to Gov. Lamong, online sports betting in the Nutmeg State won’t be available until next month.
The reason behind the delay is that online sportsbooks first need to undergo testing to ensure a smooth launch and that all of the operators meet the regulatory and licensing requirements before they can start offering their services in the state.
